when are we going to have any new spending cuts? this would at least start in a modest way reasonable spending cuts. thank you, madam president. the presiding officer: would the senator call up his motion. mr. vitter: yes, madam president. i call up the motion to commit. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: the senator from louisiana, mr. vitter, moves to commit the bill, h.r. 325, to the -- mr. vitter: madam president, i ask to waive reading of the whole. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. baucus: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from montana. mr. baucus: madam president, we've -- we've essentially already voted on this. this is very similar to the portman amendment which lost by a vote of 54-44. this approach was rejected by the house of representatives when the speaker sent over his debt increase to us which gives us breathing room. we tried this approach suggested by the senator in august of 2011. it didn't work. this moves us backward, not forward. and i think we should give pra